At the end of July God chose to bestow upon our family one of the finest and most wonderful of His gifts. The Author of life sent a little boy named Conner to enrich our lives and reflect the great and abiding love of our Creator. He has big blue eyes that stay wide and intense as he looks at you for long moments, skinny long arms and legs, dark hair, and two holes in his heart.
Being Notre Dame fans, we have a Play Like a Champion Today sign on the ceiling of the stairs going down to our den, where we gather to watch the Fighting Irish play on Saturdays. A few weeks ago, he smacked the sign for the first time, a family tradition started with his older brother and sister. He is our own little Fighting Irishman, and with each struggle for breath he is our champion.
He spent four days in the NICU unit when he was born and today he gets transported to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville for surgery on Monday. I spent the night with him at the hospital last night so that his Mommy and Daddy could have one night at home with his big sister and brother who have been with me for the last week. I spent a lot of time holding and loving him, and a lot of time praying for him, and all the other patients in the hospital with him. He stared up at me very intently the whole time, his big eyes unblinking, as if praying along with me. Actually, he found comfort in my voice and attention, and liked having someone talk to him, as much as his grandmother fantasizes about possible religious vocations.
His big sister sent him the hearts in the picture because she knows he has a boo boo inside his heart. So she kissed her toys and sent them to her brother to help him.
Conner is a very fortunate young man. He was born in a time and place where he can get the medical treatment necessary to save his life. Not all babies are so fortunate and our family gives thanks for the blessings already bestowed upon our little guy. We pray not only for him, and all the medical professionals who care for him, but especially for those other babies born far away and in less fortunate circumstances who do not have access to the hospitals and life saving technology our Conner is receiving.
This is a situation no parent or grandparent wants to face, a serious medical problem with their beloved child. It will be a long and difficult journey for our family and Conner. His parents have a heavy load to carry, now and in the future. They will be in Nashville with him for some time, out of work and away from home and their other two children.
We hope that you might take a moment to say a prayer for him and for all children who face life threatening medical problems, and for the parents who struggle to provide for their children. For any who may wish to help out here is a link for a fund started to help the family begin to cover the immediate needs and what will be staggering medical bills.
https://www.gofundme.com/b34hnf77
From our family to you, many thanks for taking the time to read this and pray for us. God bless all of you, and please, know that we pray for your needs as well.
“You know, a heart can be broken, but it keeps on beating, just the same.”
―Fannie Flagg, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe